The Knoxville Boys Basketball Squad wanted a second chance at Newton, but the Panthers could not cash in on chances during the game and fell to the Cardinals 59-55 in the class 3A Sub State ending their season as heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The Cardinals dominated the Panthers on the boards getting second chance points, plus getting loose on back door plays on numerous occasions. Interim Coach Matt Ritchhart told KNIA/KRLS Sports several times his team got close but rebounding was a major key to his team’s loss.
Ritchhart:
“We just couldn’t quite get over the hump. Looking at the box score, they had 52 shots to our 35 and that can’t happen, and we just got dominated on the boards, and you can’t do that if you want to win those close games.”
The Knoxville Boys and Girls Basketball Squads swept Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont on Friday night both winning by double digit margins 55-45 in the girls game and 73-61 in the boys contest heard live on 95.3 KNIA. The girls were good again defensively in the first half only allowing 15 points in the first 16 minutes of play and forcing ten Rocket turnovers. After getting the lead to 17 points, Eddyville-Blakesburg-Fremont went on a 13-0 run to cut the lead to four only to see Knoxville finish on an 8-0 run to end the third quarter. Coach Jim Uitermarkt told KNIA/KRLS Sports it was the patience that his team showed that impressed him the most.
It was a Panther sweep on Coaches vs. Cancer night in Knoxville as the Panther girls recovered from a first half dry spell to win 45-36, while the boys had no issues in pounding Chariton 79-33 in games heard live on 95.3 KNIA. In the opener, Knoxville raced out to a 10-0 lead only to see the Chargers finish the first half on a 15-4 run to take a 15-14 lead at the break. Knoxville came out and started to employ a 3/4 court zone press and caused the Chargers to give up the ball and led to points the other way. Assistant Coach Troy Pearson gave credit to the girls for executing the defense when they have only worked on it a few times in practice.
It was a nightmare start, middle and end for the Knoxville Boys Basketball Squad last night against Grandview Christian as the Thunder took control with a 15-2 run to end the first quarter en route to a 69-23 win over the Panthers, as heard on 95.3 KNIA. With the score tied at five, Knoxville allowed GVCA to go on a 39-4 run the rest of the first half to lead 44-9 at the break, and the running clock was in effect during all of the second half. Knoxville Interim Head Coach Matt Ritchhart told KNIA/KRLS Sports for Knoxville to be successful, everyone has to move on offense and not stand and watch one or two players run the show.